The ARCHES Executive Team provides guidance and oversight to the organization, maintaining a focus on the critical goal of improving student achievement and preparing students to obtain sustainable living wages. The Executive Team represents the range of California’s education and workforce systems.
The ARCHES Executive Team currently includes:
Zulmara (Zee) Cline, Ph.D
Title: Statewide Director, California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP), California State University (CSU)
Role: Chair of the ARCHES Executive Team and California State University Representative
Background: Prior to joining the CSU Chancellor’s Office, Dr. Cline was a professor at CSU San Marcos teaching literacy, multicultural and leadership classes. Dr. Cline brings over 34 years of K-12 and higher education experience as a kindergarten teacher and administrator.
Dr. Kimberly Mayfield
Title:Dean of the School of Education, Holy Names University
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Non-profit Independent Colleges and Universities Representative
Background:Prior to joining the Education Department at Holy Names University, Dr. Mayfield was a Special Education teacher for the Oakland Unified School District. She taught in the Education Department for 10 years before becoming chair and became Dean of the School of Education in 2017. She earned her Multiple Subjects Credential, Education Specialist Mild Moderate Credential, and EdD while teaching full time and brings over 25 years of experience in higher education and Special Education to ARCHES.
Marty J. Alvarado
Title: Executive Vice Chancellor, California Community Colleges
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and California Community Colleges Representative
Background:As Executive Vice Chancellor of Educational Services, Marty J. Alvarado provides leadership and support for the Academic Affairs and Student Services Programs. Executive Vice Chancellor Alvarado is responsible for agency-wide policies and programs related to student support, instructional delivery, and curriculum with the aim of increasing student success rates and closing achievement gaps. Executive Vice Chancellor Alvarado brings expertise in program development and implementation, community engagement and partnerships, industry engagement and work-based learning, and has served as a director for learning communities and workforce training.
Carolina Cárdenas Costilla, Ed.D.
Title: Executive Director, Intersegmental Coordinating Committee and California GEAR UP
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member
Background: Dr. Cárdenas brings over three decades of higher education experience as a senior leader with extensive expertise in oversight of federal and state programs. Prior to joining ICC and CA GEAR UP, Dr. Cárdenas worked at California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor, where she oversaw and supervised the work of the CSU’s nationally recognized Early Assessment Program. She also managed and implemented the CSU’s Academic Success and Inclusive Excellence department’s strategic plans focused on increasing graduation rates while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps.
Dennis Galligani
Title: Former Associate Vice President for Student Academic Services, University of California Office of the President
Role: ARCHES Emeritus Executive Team Member
Background: Prior to his role at the Office of the President of the University of California, Dr. Galligani was the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University of California, Irvine and served the University of California system for 32 years. Upon leaving UC, he was one of the two founding Executive Directors of ARCHES. Dr. Galligani brings 45 years of experience as a higher educational administrator.
James Lanich
Title: President and CEO, Education Results Partnership
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Business Partners Representative
Background: Dr. Lanich formerly served as Executive Director for Just for the Kids- California and founded the Education Results Partnership to provide a forum for educators to collaborate and share best practices based on reliable, actionable data. Dr. Lanich brings over 20 years of experience as a public school teacher, administrator, and university professor.
Rick Miller
Title: Executive Director, CORE Districts
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member
Background: Prior to joining CORE Districts, Mr. Miller was the Executive Director of ARCHES and served as Deputy State Superintendent for P-16 Policy and Information Branch of the California Department of Education. He developed policy recommendations on promising ways to improve student achievement, specifically focused on closing the state’s achievement gaps. Mr. Miller brings over 20 years of experience in K-12 and higher education as a teacher and senior administrator.
Jessie Ryan
Title: President and Representative for Area 7, Sacramento City Unified School Board
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Community Organization Representative
Background: Ms. Ryan serves as the Executive Vice President for the Campaign for College Opportunity, where she shepherded historic transfer reform legislation to simplify the transfer pathway from community colleges to baccalaureate granting institutions as well as led efforts to reform remedial education. Mrs. Ryan brings over 12 years of experience in the field of education as an administrator, education advocate, and policymaker.
Sandra Williams-Hamp
Title: Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, University of California’s Office of Diversity and Engagement
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and University of California Representative
Background: Ms. Williams-Hamp previously worked for the College Board as the executive director for K–12 in the 12 western states for more than 18 years. Ms. Williams-Hamp brings over 27 years of experience in K–12 educational strategy, strategic partnerships, and program implementation.